What looks like a pile of trash is actually the Ant Stacking Nymph of an Assassin Bug. These young predators use ant carcasses as camouflage and armor—turning their victims into a gruesome disguise that hides them from both prey and predators. © Raghuram Annadana

Competition 2025 – Photography – 18 and over – Raghuram Annadana – (2) Possibly Acanthaspis sp.

By Raghuram Annadana

What looks like a pile of trash is actually the Ant Stacking Nymph of an Assassin Bug. These young predators use ant carcasses as camouflage and armor—turning their victims into a gruesome disguise that hides them from both prey and predators.

Competition: 2025 - Photography - 18 and over

Insect order: True bugs

Species: Possibly Acanthaspis sp.

Picture taken in: India

Second image